Igor Levit: Politicians are calling culture high-risk

The outspoken Russian-German pianist has a blast at Germany’s failure to offer vaccinations and its suggestion that cultural is a high-risk activity.

From an interview with BR:

‘We are in a pandemic and it has to be met with humility and respect. Anyone who doesn’t do this is making a really grave mistake. Too many people die. And you have to behave responsibly with no ifs or buts. We were closed, but then help us financially. And the fact is, most musicians fall through all bars and networks. What has been announced as help is often not worth mentioning. Of those who are in the second and third rows and who help us musicians to go on stage, not to mention agencies etc. They don’t even have a box to tick to ask for help. So for a year now we have been trying to make it clear to politicians what the reality of our lives is. And now you can see that it was basically free. That makes you very angry.

‘For months we have been experiencing – let’s put it nicely – an unfortunate policy in terms of vaccination. In this context, knowing that we could actually be a lot further, politicians now come along and say: Here is the decision-making process. And rooms that do not pose a threat will be dealt with in the last wave, if at all. My main criticism of politics is what is between the lines. Between the lines it is suggested that culture is a danger. And health hazard. that do not pose a threat will get their turn in the last wave, if at all. My main criticism of politics is what is between the lines. Between the lines it is suggested that culture is a danger. And health hazard. that do not pose a threat will get their turn in the last wave, if at all.

‘My main criticism of politics is what is between the lines. Between the lines it is suggested that culture is a danger. And a health hazard.’